Chapter 8:5-13
The presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives a special and peculiar character to the Christian’s position in the world; so it is said in verse 4 that believers walk after (according to) the Spirit, and in the fifth verse that they, being after, or according to, the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit. We do not find here a statement of what a Christian ought to be; that will come in its place; nor are we given instruction regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit for witnessing in an unbelieving world, or for edifying the saints; this we find elsewhere. Instead, what we have here is the characteristic state of the believer, that he is led and energized by the Holy Spirit.
As to the unbelieving, still in the state before God of children of Adam, “in the flesh” (see chapter 7, verse 5), and “after (or according to) the flesh” —verse 5 of our chapter—they mind the things of the flesh; the affections, the desires, and the will of the old nature are theirs and characteristic of them.
The old nature, “the flesh,” is truly in believers, but the doctrine of death with and life given through Christ allows no place for it to act; they that are after the Spirit (the position of the believer) do mind the things of the Spirit.
Not always are the marginal notes in our English Bibles safe to follow, but those given for the 6th verse, are sound. The verse has been translated, “For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit life and peace” (N.T.) These are the certain results of the action of the nature within the breast of the unbeliever in the one case, and the believer in the other.
The mind of the flesh (see marginal note for the 7th verse) is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be; and they that are in flesh cannot please God. There is no room here for hope of improvement for man “in the flesh”; the language is plain, and admits of no modification.
O, that many who trust in themselves for acceptance with God, would but heed this solemn, this awful conclusion regarding man; that they would seek mercy while it is called today! Salvation is free!
“But ye,” verse 9, “are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you.” And, if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him. The Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ are different applications of the truth of the same divine Person. He is the Spirit of God in contrast with man in the flesh; the Spirit of Christ because in Him was displayed in perfection a life here below. The believer is not “in the flesh,” though “the flesh” is in him; through death with Christ he has passed into a new standing in Him where there is no condemnation; and this position was formed by the action of the Holy Spirit, so that those who are spoken of in verse 1 as “in Christ Jesus” in verse 9 are “in the Spirit.”
Verse 10. What a precious and privileged place is the believer brought into! He is “in Christ Jesus” when it is a question of his acceptance before God; condemnation cannot reach him, because of the work of Christ in dying for him, and now He is living for him above. The Holy Spirit has been given to him to dwell in him, to guide and energize him in the paths of life and peace; and now it is said,
“If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” I am in Christ, and Christ is in me! No doubt His being in me is by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ, dwelling in His people. But what weighty instruction is here: Christ thus dwelling in me, is to be the power of my life.
How wonderfully I am provided for! Shall I, in whom Christ dwells, allow the old nature which (though I have a new nature) is yet in me, free rein, to lead me into thoughts and ways and words that are part and parcel of what I was before I was converted? Would not this be most dishonoring to Him, as well as contrary to what I have learned; contrary too to what the new nature desires?
What then am I to do? Reckon the body —the old natural will and desires and inclinations—dead. Do not yield to it, for to do so is to let the body be the instrument of sin. I am enabled to refuse it; then comes in the latter part of verse 10: “The Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Righteousness, then, is not only in the standing I have before God as accepted in Christ; it is connected with my daily life. And it is important that I should remember this. It brings before me the need of constant watchfulness against the activity of that enemy within me, the deceitful old nature, and it shows me the key to a life that is according to God.
Verses 10 and 11 go together, the one treating of the believer’s life down here in this world, and the other of that culminating event of Christian joy, the resurrection morning, when the dead in Christ shall rise and we, the living who remain, shall be changed; together with them shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; and so forever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 113But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18) Corinthians 15:51-57).
It was God the Father who raised our blessed Substitute from the dead; “Jesus,” His personal name, “Christ” a name of His position and office—the Anointed One. Man refused Him, put Him to death, and God raised Him up from the dead. You and I, dear young Christian, have been identified with Him in His death, and we have life through Him; we are to live forever with Him. Here, in verse 11, we are given the pledge of our resurrection, and in language which speaks to the heart.
“If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
What an answer to the cry of Chapter 7, verse 24; Then we shall enjoy perfect and final deliverance, the old nature gone, and our bodies made fit for our eternal Home. Well may the apostle add, (verse 12),
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors.” May there be more and more in our souls a deep sense of our indebtedness to God. It will be our theme in eternity, together with His praise.
And now as we pass on our way through time, in the hope of the realization of verse 11, what shall be our answer, dear young Christian, to verses 12 and 13? We owe nothing to “the flesh,” to live according to it, for that way leads to death. The way of life is ours if we, through the Spirit, put to death the evil deeds of the body.
(To Be Continued, D.V.)